Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Stretch Mark

Opinion Pieces Discuss Criticisms Of Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor
Two opinion pieces recently responded to criticisms of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama"s nominee to the Supreme Court.~ Raina Kelley, Newsweek: The "discussions about whether ... Sotomayor was chosen just because she is a Hispanic woman drive me nuts," Newsweek columnist Kelley writes. She continues, "Yes, the fact that she"s a Latina makes a difference in what she brings to the bench, but let"s not overlook the fact that she"d be qualified for the job even if she were a white man." Citing Sotomayor"s experience as a Second Circuit Court of Appeals judge for more than a decade and her educational qualifications as a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Kelley writes that "we can assume that she has at least some of the appropriate skills to be a Supreme Court justice." She adds, "But when she sits down for those hearings in front of the cameras and the country, the lingering question will still be, "Did she get into all those great schools just because of her race?"" Kelley writes, "It"s infuriating to me that a woman as competent as Sotomayor will have to prove she deserves her nomination while a white-male colleague with the same resume can skip that step and go straight to his judicial philosophy." According to Kelley, "It is time for our hallowed institutions to look like the country" they serve. She notes that "white males have gotten the jobs over at the Supreme Court 96% of the time," concluding that "the assumption that they"re naturally the best candidate for everything, and we"re doing anyone else a favor if we give them a desirable job, is a bit much" (Kelley, Newsweek, 5/29).~ Kathleen Parker, Washington Post: "Even without the help of all those foot soldiers who blast out late-night memos, any sentient being could have predicted the reaction" last week to the nomination of Sotomayor, syndicated columnist Parker writes. She adds, "Within minutes" of the announcement, "a dozen other e-mails tumbled through the hatch enumerating all the reasons Sotomayor was a terrible pick: affirmative action, identity politics, the Ricci [v. DeStefano] case, double standards, racism, sexism." She continues, "Although her judicial record has raised some legitimate concerns, Sotomayor isn"t so easily characterized as the radical liberal that some on the right have suggested. She has ruled favorably toward abortion protesters and unfavorably toward minority plaintiffs." In reference to Sotomayor"s 2001 comments that her experiences as a Hispanic woman might help her reach a ""better conclusion than a white male who hasn"t lived that life,"" Parker asks, "Could a white man get away with saying something comparable about a Latina? Of course not. After Latinas have run the world for 2,000 years, they won"t be able to say it ever again either." Parker continues, "For now, the hot winds of punditry could use a little chill," concluding, "Calling Sotomayor a sexist and racist, far from being fair, is an irrational rush to judgment unbecoming ladies, gentlemen, scoundrels and scholars" (Parker, Washington Post, 5/31).
generic viagra online
RA Individuals From Lower GDP Countries Keep Working Despite Worse Symptoms Than Richer Countries
Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in lower gross domestic product (GDP) countries (GDP below $11,000) are more likely to continue working despite higher disease activity and functional disability scores compared to their counterparts in higher GDP countries (GDP >$24,000) according to a new multinational study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
News of the day
Sucampo Initiates Pivotal Phase 3 Efficacy Trial Of Lubiprostone For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation In Japan
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMP), an international biopharmaceutical company, announced that its subsidiary, Sucampo Pharma, Ltd., has initiated enrollment and completed the randomization of the first patient into the pivotal phase 3 efficacy trial of lubiprostone for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in Japan.
Endocrinology

Extreme Sports Not About Risk-taking: Study

Those who think extreme sports are all about risk-taking are missing the point, according to a QUT researcher. Eric Brymer, a lecturer from the School of Human Movement Studies in the Faculty of Health, has been researching whether the element of risk was an important factor among participants in "extreme" sports such as waterfall kayakers, mountain climbers, big wave surfers and B.A.S.E. jumpers. He said his research offered a different framework from the traditional understanding of extreme sport. Dr Brymer found that, although the image of those who take part in extreme sports was that of risk-takers and adrenaline junkies, the opposite was true. "I wanted to do this research because in my masters studies I was hearing about sensation seeking, risk-taking behaviour in extreme sports people, and it just didn"t match what I knew from my background in kayaking and canoeing," he said. "The people I knew were very careful, disciplined, determined and focussed, not at all reckless or risk-taking; for some people to get to a certain level of a sport, it takes 15 years dedicated training, which is not something you would associate with a thrill-seeker." In his study, Mr Brymer conducted interviews with extreme sportspeople aged from 30 to 73, to find out how they felt when they did the activity, and what their motivations were. "What I found was that these people have a real love for these activities, and talk about a realisation about the power of nature, a sense of humility, and a real sense of peace," he said. "They also said they felt a sense of relaxation and freedom, not in the socio-cultural sense but in the sense that they were so focussed and aware, it was like clearing the mind in meditation." Dr Brymer said the participants, while unable to control nature, were educated about conditions, and were very careful to minimise potential risks. "One thing that came up was that they realise people see them as risk-takers, but they do not see themselves that way at all, and they cited the road as a comparison, saying that crossing the road or driving was more risky," said Dr Brymer. "On the road, you have no control of other factors such as other drivers, but in the natural world you are at a level doing these activities where your depth of knowledge is so vast that you can be in control, you understand the weather and the clouds, and what will happen as a result, so you can plan for that." Dr Brymer said while he was not denying some people in extreme sports may have become involved because they were attracted by the risk-taking aspect, most of the people he had come across did not see that as a positive thing. "Risk is about uncertainty, about not having control, and these people see themselves as in control," he said. "Some did mention times when they did feel the adrenalin and were in a risky position, but generally it is more about how lucky they were to survive it, and seeing it as a negative experience rather than something they are seeking." He said the perception people had of extreme sports participants was brought about by not knowing enough about the sports. "It is about not really understanding something. I compare it to looking for love - you are not searching for the risk of not being loved, but you are aware that there is risk involved: the risk of rejection, of not finding what you are looking for," he said. "It is the same in extreme sports: while there is an awareness of risk it is not the reason most people are involved, but rather something they accept because they are looking for something deeper and more meaningful." Queensland University of Technology


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009